Score is an estimate based on relative CPU/GPU performance tiers, resolution, and workload. A gap over ~15% suggests a bottleneck worth addressing.
CPU load vs GPU load
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What causes a bottleneck?
A bottleneck happens when one component maxes out before the others, wasting their potential.
CPU bottleneck
Common at 1080p with high refresh rates — the CPU can't feed the GPU fast enough, capping FPS.
GPU bottleneck
Typical at 4K — the graphics card is the limiting factor, which is actually the "healthy" kind.
Resolution matters
Higher resolutions shift work to the GPU, so a CPU-heavy build balances out at 4K.
Fixing the balance
Practical steps before you spend money:
- • Raise resolution or quality — at 1080p CPU-bound, move to 1440p to shift load to the GPU.
- • Cap frame rate — a stable cap (e.g. 60 or 120 fps) stops the CPU from overworking.
- • Close background apps — browser tabs and overlays steal CPU headroom.
- • Upgrade in stages — replace the bottleneck component first, then measure again.
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